Pumpkins and Squash oh my!

We grew over a 100 pumpkin and squash this year.  Thank heavens we split them between my parents and us.  Yikes.  We canned yesterday from 10a.m.-10p.m. UGH  I am so glad we are done canning for the year.  Unfortunately, we weren't sure they sealed correctly so the quarts are sitting in our freezer.  What a bummer.  It would have taken less time if I would have frozen them in baggies.  Oh well.  Nathan for the first time tasted our squash bars and really liked them.

I think Sebastian is waffling back and forth about the whole public school situation.  In fact, I think he is wanting to stay at home.  I realize the importance of actually taking a child's complaints serious.  I think he just wanted to feel heard and validated.  In fact, I catch him often saying yes, ma'am more often.  It throws me every time.  He is reading the Percy Jackson series and has fallen in love with Greek mythology.  I told him we will be studying it at home next semester and that also has made him want to stay at home.   2 more weeks left.

We took the week off of school, I am going to go every 6 weeks/1 week off of school.  Except in Dec. and August.  We will take the whole months off.  It sounds quite wonderful.  I love having scheduled breaks.  Otherwise I would never take them or if I did I would feel like I wasn't doing a good job with school because I was taking too much time off.  Everyone seemed to like it.  I got a lot of cooking done so I didn't get a break and sometimes it felt more stressful because I wanted to get all the things done on my list.  If it will make the next 2 or 3 weeks run more smoothly and peacefully than it was well worth it.

I keep thinking we have only 2 1/2 months left on GAPS until we slowly wean ourselves off.  Quite frankly, I don't know how much we will change.  I really have gotten use to no bread and other stuff I thought I could never live without.  I don't want to go back on sugar, I think we will stay on honey.  I will no longer do cereal unless it is granola and hopefully one day, oats.  I can't wait for reg. beans with substance.  I love black beans.  However, I think I will always stay away from canned foods as much as possible.  I will always make my broth, cook and soak my beans, so realistically we will stay 80% on it.  Cosette and Analise broke out in a rash on their face and now Hannelora says her neck is itchy.  Last night, we had pizza and Nathan also sprayed for bugs.  Analise has broken out with a rash since Wed.  I know it can't be that.  Who knows.  I am making them eat broth and sourkrout.  It is so fun in my house right now.    We have 2 major Holidays coming up and it really stinks about the food.  I won't lie about how difficult it is, especially during social occasions.  It would be so easy to give in and eat them and suffer at home but it isn't important enough.  Sometimes I feel like we are making ourselves social outcasts because we are being left out (our decision totally). I suppose it really is no different than making the decision of homeschooling, listening to christian music or having chickens in our backyard.  I just pray our sacrifice will keep my family as healthy as possible.  (Yes, we get sick with colds- I knew this wasn't a miracle cure going into this) 

 oh the strain....

 my helpers...  Cozi ran out early

 pumpkin seeds!

How do I fit it all in?

I have been so lazy about blogging lately.    It is funny I never blogged in August because we took a month off from school.  I was so burnt out.  We began school the weekend after Labor Day and that was even too soon.  I went into it feeling stressed and overwhelmed.  I was worried about Hannelora and her math.  I didn't have the time to work with her and also feel like I could do a good job.  So I finally brought it up with Nathan and we decided to get a tutor for her.  Unfortunately, the school system couldn't help her because I needed the paperwork handed in a year in advance which makes little sense.  So we will have to wait another year to get any (if at all) help.  So I hired a sweet gal whom Hannelora adores and she goes to her once a week.  Another stress-er is my oldest son.  He is so unhappy.  He thinks life would be so much better if we put him in school and were off GAPS.  I don't get it, what kid would hate getting eggs, sausage, homemade ice cream all the time?  He keeps telling me it is his missing out on junk food his friends eat.  I keep telling him we will probably always stay off sugar, unless it is from an occasional party.  Why bring something back into our system that is so easy to get addicted too?  Almost every day I needed to call Nathan to have him talk to him about his attitude towards school and mommy.  Finally, I decided to ask my friends and my mentor about solutions.  Nathan and I have decided Sebastian has until the end of the month to "get it together".  He needs to have a change of heart about his respect and attitude around the home if he wants to go to Independent.  As much as I don't want to do this (more work for me), I realize he might be the kid that goes to school. I guess we will see.  

How is GAPS going?  Fairly well, I have been able to keep some freezer meals in the freezer for days we are busy or gone.  A HUGE HELP!  We still haven't tried Northern beans since Cozi and Hannelora had there last stomach issue.  I tried some gluten free oats and everyone but Hannelora and I have done well.  I broke out with bumps on my arm and Hannelora had stomach pain.  I have a supply of frozen broth in my freezer which makes life so nice.  The nice thing is food hasn't been a stress for me since starting school full time.  My kids are totally sick of eggs still.  Not me, I could eat scrambled eggs every day.  There are still many days I don't want to cook, but that would be the same if we weren't on GAPS.  There is one complaint I dislike about GAPS, I really feel it is too much work to travel or go anywhere for a long period of time.  I am hoping a few kids and I will be able to go see my brother and his family next year.

Nathan got me to go on a 2nd camping trip.  This time the weather was beautiful. 

 A little hike up to the falls

 Nathan and Hannelora learned to fly fish from Justen.  They loved it.

 painting their ocean boxes for science

we are studying swimming creatures of the 5th day

so interesting and fun

 I came home one morning, and the girls showed Bjorn how to tie shoelaces

 Our yearly pictures... These are just a few

 Our carrots, I planted colored ones: yellow, red, orange white

My sister in law dad's tomato bounty.   We were really blessed.  So far we canned tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, salsa, and applesauce.  Next will be pumpkin and butternut squash.

 Who New we had praying mantis?  I have never seen a real one in my entire life and now we have seen 2!

Riverfront Park with Jordan.  She suggested we go find colorful leaves and make book marks.  We still have yet to make them.  Probably next week.  I am finding out the fun little outdoor breaks really bless the kids.  They all thanked me for going.  Actually, I should thank Jordan.

 skipping contest

THIS IS HILARIOUS!  I was walking by the computer room and saw Hannelora studying her piano.  This is what I saw.  She is breaking in her hunting boots daddy bought her.  

 Notice the bright pink on the top of the boot.  Her laces are also pink...